Pants hanging apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for threading a pair of pants on a clothes hanger comprises a carriage mounted clamp which draws the pants across a hanger. A hanger holder is automatically moved into position by a motor-driven belt, and the clamp extends forwardly to receive the pants cuffs. After the clamp jaws close, the carriage retracts along the apparatus frame until the length of the pants extends about half-way over the hanger. At this point a switch is activated opening the clamp jaws, allowing the pants to fall over the hanger, and activating the motor driven belt which removes the hanger holding the pants and delivers a new hanger holder into position.

|[45] Dec. 30, 1975 Primary Examiner-Frank E. Werner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward J. Quirk [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for threading a pair of pants on a clothes hanger comprises a carriage mounted clamp which Lawrence V. Drace, 6928 Acoma Court, Las Vegas, Nev. 89128 June 25, 1974 United States Patent 1191 Drace [54] PANTS HANGING APPARATUS [76] Inventor:

[22] Filed:

[21] Appl. No.; 483,050

U., Patent Dec. 3o, 1975 sheet 1 @f3 a um..

FIGURE I.

Sheet 2 of 3 lllllmll U.S. Patent Dec. 3o, 1975 FIGURE 2.

US. Patent Dec. 3o, 1975 Sheet 3 of 3 IIOV AC "Lim FIGURE 4.

The large volume of clothing and linens processed by many commercial laundries has led to substantial automation of their operations. For example, bedsheets can be completely pressed and folded by machine, and pressing of wash-and-wear shirts and slacks is accomplished by passing the garments through a steam cabinet on hangers. However, many operations though relatively simple, are still carried out manually, consuming an unduly large amount of time and manpower relative to the complexity of the operation.

In the course of processing of a pair of trousers, either in a commercial laundryhandling working clothes or in a dry-cleaning establishment, it is necessary to hang the trousers on a clothes hanger. If the trousers are processed in a steam cabinet, they are placed on the hanger after laundering or cleaning and prior to being run through the cabinet. If the trousers are actually pressed, they are placed on a hanger just after the pressing operation. Although the placing of pants on a hanger is a relatively simple task, it requires manually shaking the pants to align the creases of each trouser leg, alignment of the cuffs, and sliding the pants over the hanger without losing the alignment of the two legs. Ir`i most instances, the clothes hanger is wire and is protected by a trouser guard, which is a Vshaped piece of cardboard inverted over the bottom element of the hanger, and which often is coated on the outside with an adhesive material to keep the pants from slipping off the hanger. Placing the pants on the hanger without dragging the material across the adhesive on the trouser guard is somewhat awkward, and for this reason it is common for two workers to be involved in placing pants on a hanger. The use of two employees for such a simple task as hanging pants is of course quite a substantial overhead burden.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus which can automatically thread a pair of trousers onto a clothes hanger, and then remove the hanger to another location for further processing.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus with which one operator can quickly and easily place a pair of trousers on a hanger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION pulled partially through the clothes hanger. Switch` means contacted by the clamp in its retracted position releases the cuffs from the clamp and activates a motor driven endless belt, which removes the hanger from its threading position after the trousers have been threaded over the hanger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a perspective view of the pants hanging and transporting mechanism of the invention.

FIG. 2 is'a partial side view of the apparatus showing the cuff clamp carriage in a forward position, with the retracted position being shown in phantom.

2 FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram of the air system of the apparatus, and

FIG. 4 is an electrical wiring diagram for the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of the invention consists generally of two sections, one of which is a pneumatically operated system concerned with threading the trousers onto a clothes hanger, and the other of which is a motor driven belt system concerned with transporting empty hangers to the threader, and transporting the threaded pants away.

Referring to FIG. 1, the threading section is built on frame or base 1 having a movable carriage 2 which can reciprocate between a forward position as shown in the drawings and a retracted position, shown in phantom in FIG. 2. The carriage rolls along frame 1 on wheels 3 which run along the bottom horizontal track 4 on either side of the U-shaped frame member. The carriage is driven by rod 5 of standard double-acting air piston 6 which has air inlet port 7 on the forward end, and an identical port on the other end. Rod 5 is bolted or welded to the rear of the carriage. The piston 6 is actuated by air flow through tubing 8 and 9 from air valves 10 and 1 1. As air valve l1 is actuated, air flows through tubing 9 to the rear chamber of the piston, driving the piston forward, and accordingly moving rod 5 and carriage 2 forward. Air exhausts from the forward chamber of the piston through port 7 and tubing 8 and is vented through the vent of air valve 10. The piston is reversed by closing valve 1 l, which allows the air in the rear chamber to vent back through port 80, tubing 9, and valve 1l and to the atmosphere, and at the same time opening air valve l0, which allows air under pressure to flow through tubing 8 into the forward chamber of the piston, driving the piston backward, and moving rod 5 and carriage 2 toward the rear of the frame. If desired, one four-way air valve can be used in place of valves 10 and 11.

Air is supplied to the valvesrfrom a system comprising a source of compressed air l2, air filter 13, oiler 14, pressure regulator 15, and pressure gauge 16. The compressed air source may be a cylinder, or a compressor or compressor surge tankY as shown in FIG. 3 as vessel 75, regulated to keep the source pressure from about 45 to about 100 psig, preferably about 60psig. While higher pressures can be used,| they are not necessary and would require more costly downstream equipment. A relatively small sourceof air, sufficient to provide about l-2 cfm at 35 psig is adequate.

Filter 13 is a standard filter which will remove any moisture or particulate matter from the compressed air; for example, a Wilkerson filter model l 102-2, Series B as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,869,570 is suitable. Oiler 14, the purpose of which is to saturate the air with oil, thereby preventing sticking of the air cylinders, is also a standard item of equipment. A Wilkerson oiler model 3000-2, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,921,649 is adequate. Similarly, the pressure regulator and pressure gauge are standard items; a suitable regulator is a Wilkerson Model 2000-2, series D. The regulator should be set at a pressure from about 20 to about 40 psig, preferably about 35 psig. The gauge can either be fixed to the appropriate location on the regulator, or can be fit in the system just downstream of the pressure regulator. The filter, oiler, regulator and gauge are connected by standard r inch carbon steel pipe.

Air flows to valves 10 and 11 through a tee 17 and tubing 18 to tee 19, where the line splits and feeds the inlets of valves 10 and ll located at the valve bottom, thus providing a source of air for the double-acting piston. Air from the preparation train also flows from tee 17 through tubing 20 to air valve 2l, which is a single action valve similar to valves l and 11. When the valve is actuated, air flows through tubing 22 to hydraulic cylinder 23. The top of cylinder 23 is mounted with bolts 25 and suspended from brace 24, which is mounted on carriage 2 and has as its sole function the support of the cylinder. A side view of the cylinder and mounting are also shown in FIG. 2. Upon activation, air flows into the bottom chamber of cylinder 23, forcing the internal piston (not shown) upward and consequently raising piston rod 26. The cylinder and rod are shown in the inactive position in FIG. 2, and are shown in the activated condition in the phantom view of FIG. 2. The piston is maintained in its normally lowered position, and is returned to its normally lowered position after valve 21 is closed, by spring 27. The upper clamp jaw 30 is secured to piston rod 26 by nut 8l which is threadedly mounted onto the rod. Nut 8l may also be used to adjust the tension on clamp 28 in the closed position; as the nut is advanced up the shaft of rod 26, the tension exerted by the jaws on the pants cuffs increases.

Cylinder 23 is used to open and close cuff clamp 28 having lower fixed jaw 29 and upper movable jaw 30. Pivot pins 3l which are cylindrical projections fixed to either side of clamp 28 are rotatably mounted in cylindrical bearing races 32, which are welded to the floor of carriage 28. Accordingly, upper jaw 30 can pivot about point 3l, opening and closing the cuff clamp. The inner surface of the jaws of the clamp are desirably lined with a soft resilient material 33, such as felt or rubber, in order that the trouser cuffs may be gripped firmly by the jaws without danger of damage to the material.

The hanger transport system is driven by motor 34, shaft 35, and pulley 36 which drives belt 37 in a closed loop. The motor is a conventional itz-horsepower electrically driven motor. The belt may be a standard rubber drive belt, but is preferably a metal link chain belt, in which case pulleys 36, 38, and 39 would be drive sprockets. Pinions 40, 4l, 42, 43, 44, and 45 are equally spaced along and fixed to the belt, and are simply metal rods which are substantially horizontally projecting toward the front of the apparatus. The pinions act as hooks from which the hangers are suspended, and may be slightly tilted upwards to insure that a hanger will not slide off. The pinions may alternatively be hook-shaped in order to more securely hold the hangers. The pulleys and belt are mounted on a steel frame which consists of a vertical support section 46 fixed to a lower open rectangular section 47. The lower frame section 47 is welded or bolted to the front of base frame l.

Hangers may be manually placed on the pinions or may be fed automatically by a conventional clothes hanger feeder. For example, an operator can manually place hanger 48 on pinion 41, or may alternately place the hangers on a pinion before it moves into threading position, such as hanger 49 on pinion 40. In FIG. l, the automatic hanger feeder would be positioned to feed one hanger at a time to pinion 40.

Operation of the apparatus is as follows. The operation begins with the apparatus in the position shown in FIG. 1. The operator inserts the cuffs 50 of pants 51 over roller 60 and between thejaws 29 and 30 of clamp 28. The roller, which is mounted on frame 47 with brackets 6l and 62, is freely rotatable and allows the pants to be pulled through the aperture in frame 47 without snagging or catching on the equipment or the hanger. If desired, a textured rubber tape shown as 63 may be wrapped around the roller to allow the fabric to grip the roller. The operator then closes the jaws by pressing switch 52, which activates air valve 21 and cylinder 23, lifting piston rod 26 thereby closing the jaws of the clamp. The circuitry for the switch is detailed in FIGS. 3 and 4.

After the cuffs are secured in the clamp and the pants seams are properly aligned, the operator depresses switch 53, which activates air valve l0, allowing air to flow to the forward chamber of piston 6, drawing carriage 2 toward the rear of the frame and threading the pants through the hanger. As the carriage reaches the farthest point of rearward travel, which occurs when the pants are about half way across the hanger, the rear wall 56 of the carriage contacts microswitches 57 and 58. Switch 57 closes valve l0 and opens valve l1, exhausting air from the front chamber of the piston, and opening air flow to the rear chamber, thus returning the piston and carriage to the forward position. Switch 58 activates drive motor 34 and also dcactivates air valve 21, opening the clamp jaws and releasing the pants cuffs. Drive motor 34 drives belt 37, advancing each pinion, and lifting the threaded pants from the position of pinion 41 shown in FIG. 1 to the position of pinion 42. The drive motor is deactivated when the advancing pinion contacts leaf switch 59; switch 59 shuts off the electric motor and stops the pinion next advancing to the threading position, which may or may not contain a hanger, in position to receive a pair of trousers. Switch 59 may be located at any position around the length of the belt. As the hanger containing the trousers proceeds around the loop of belt 37, the hanger will be picked up by stationary slide rail 65, which is a rod which intercepts the hanger and lifts it off of the pinion as the pinion passes by. Slide rail 65 is downwardly sloped, and the hanger slides down the rod to its destination, which may be a storage rack or an automatic steam cabinet feeder. Removal of hangers from a moving belt by such a rod is common practice with commercial laundries.

With the apparatus of the invention, only one operator is needed to rapidly thread trousers onto hangers. One machine cycle duration is about 7 seconds, accordingly, allowing about 3 seconds for an operator to place trousers in the clamp, one operator should be able to hang about six pairs of trousers per minute. Operation is accelerated by using foot-operated switches for manual switches 52 and 53, allowing the operator free use of her hands when placing the cuffs into clamp 28.

Electrical switches and wiring not shown in FIG. l are housed in enclosure 68. The wiring diagram for the apparatus to effect the operation as described above is shown in FIG. 4. For convenience, the numbers of the components of the diagram are as follows:

clamp relay 2l air valve for clamp 52 manual clamp switch 58 clamp microswitch activated by carriage 34 motor to drive belt 7l relay for motor -continued 59 leaf switch to stop motor 34 l0 air valve for double piston l l air valve for double piston 72 relay for air valves l0 and l l 57 motor microswitch activated by carriage 85 power on/off switch a schematic flow diagram for the air flow is shown in FIG. 3.

All of the electrical components, including the switches, relays, and motor, and all of the pneumatic components, such as the valves, pistons, tubing, and fittings are standard, commercially available items. While one specific embodiment of the apparatus has been described herein, the invention should not be considered limited to the specific apparatus. Many modifications obvious to one skilled in the art may be made in the design of the equipment and still be within the concept of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.

I claim:

l. Apparatus for threading a pair of trousers on a clothes hanger comprising in combination with a clothes hanger:

a frame;

clamp means for receiving the cuffs of a pair of trousers carried by said frame, said clamp means being movable between a first position ,near the front of the frame and a second position;

activating means for securing the cuffs of a pair of trousers in said clamp means when the clamp means is in the first position and deactivating means for releasing said cuffs from the clamp means when the clamp means is in the second position;

drive means for moving said clamp means between said first and second positions;

support means for positioning said clothes hanger adjacent said first position such that the trousers are threaded through saidl clothes hanger when the cuffs are engaged in the clamp means in the first position and the clamp means is moved to the second position; and

transport means for removing said hanger away from said first position after the trousers have been threaded on the hanger.

2. The apparatus of claim l vwherein the clamp means comprises at least one movable jaw having an open position and a closed position, and the apparatus also comprises switch means for opening and closing said clamp means.

3. The apparatus of claim l also comprising a track mounted on said frame, a carriage movable along said track, said clamp means being mounted on said carriage, and drive means for moving the carriage between a forward position and a retracted position.

4. The apparatus of claim l wherein the drive means is hydraulically actuated.

5. The apparatus of claim l wherein the transport means comprises an endless belt, a plurality of hanger support means for hanging said clothes hanger thereon fixed to and equally spaced along said endless belt, and drive means for moving said endless belt.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 also comprising switch means to start operation of said transport means, and switch means to stop operation of said transport means after said transport means has traveled a distance equal to the spacing between the hanger support means.

7.. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the switch means to stop operation of the transport means is actuated by the hanger support means. 

1. Apparatus for threading a pair of trousers on a clothes hanger comprising In combination with a clothes hanger: a frame; clamp means for receiving the cuffs of a pair of trousers carried by said frame, said clamp means being movable between a first position near the front of the frame and a second position; activating means for securing the cuffs of a pair of trousers in said clamp means when the clamp means is in the first position and deactivating means for releasing said cuffs from the clamp means when the clamp means is in the second position; drive means for moving said clamp means between said first and second positions; support means for positioning said clothes hanger adjacent said first position such that the trousers are threaded through said clothes hanger when the cuffs are engaged in the clamp means in the first position and the clamp means is moved to the second position; and transport means for removing said hanger away from said first position after the trousers have been threaded on the hanger.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the clamp means comprises at least one movable jaw having an open position and a closed position, and the apparatus also comprises switch means for opening and closing said clamp means.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 also comprising a track mounted on said frame, a carriage movable along said track, said clamp means being mounted on said carriage, and drive means for moving the carriage between a forward position and a retracted position.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drive means is hydraulically actuated.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transport means comprises an endless belt, a plurality of hanger support means for hanging said clothes hanger thereon fixed to and equally spaced along said endless belt, and drive means for moving said endless belt.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 also comprising switch means to start operation of said transport means, and switch means to stop operation of said transport means after said transport means has traveled a distance equal to the spacing between the hanger support means.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the switch means to stop operation of the transport means is actuated by the hanger support means. 